AUTHOR=Su Li , Meng Jian-Yu , Yang Hong , Zhang Chang-Yu 

TITLE=Molecular Characterization and Expression of OfJNK and Ofp38 in Ostrinia furnacalis (Guenée) Under Different Environmental Stressors

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Physiology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/physiology/articles/10.3389/fphys.2020.00125

DOI=10.3389/fphys.2020.00125

ISSN=1664-042X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Ostrinia furnacalis</italic>, an important pest of corn, has substantial detrimental effects on corn production. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in an insect’s resistance to environmental stress. The expression levels of <italic>JNK</italic> and <italic>p38</italic> have been well recorded in several insects under different environmental stressors, at different developmental stages, and in various tissue types; however, there is limited information on <italic>JNK</italic> and <italic>p38</italic> in agricultural insects. To clarify the mechanism whereby <italic>O. furnacalis</italic> responds to environmental stress, we cloned <italic>JNK</italic> and <italic>p38</italic> from <italic>O. furnacalis</italic> and subsequently named them <italic>OfJNK</italic> and <italic>Ofp38</italic>, respectively. Further, we examined the expression levels of <italic>OfJNK</italic> and <italic>Ofp38</italic> under different environmental stressors. In this study, we obtained full-length sequences of <italic>OfJNK</italic> and <italic>Ofp38</italic>, and RT-qPCR results showed that these genes were expressed at all developmental stages, in various tissues (head, chest, abdomen, leg, wing, antennae, compound eye, midgut, and ovary) and under different environmental stressors (4°C and ultraviolet A treatment for 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min). The expression levels of <italic>OfJNK</italic> and <italic>Ofp38</italic> were relatively higher in eggs and 3-day-old adult females than in other developmental stages. Moreover, the expression level of <italic>OfJNK</italic> was higher in the wings than in other tissues, whereas that of <italic>Ofp38</italic> was significantly higher in the ovaries than in other tissues. <italic>OfJNK</italic> and <italic>Ofp38</italic> showed high expression 90 min after being subjected to treatment at 4°C and ultraviolet A irradiation; the expression of <italic>Ofp38</italic> peaked at 30 min, whereas that of <italic>OfJNK</italic> peaked at 60 min. These results indicate that <italic>O. furnacalis</italic> differs in terms of its response under different environmental stressors. In summary, our results will provide a foundation for additional research needed to determine the role of the MAPK signaling pathway and the underlying mechanisms by which it shows resistance to environmental stresses in insects.</p>